Motor-vehicle.



No. 860,614, PATENTED JULY 16, lgovf G. E. WHITNEY.

MOTO-R VEHICLE.

AEPLIOATION FILED 00m10.160s.

UNrrED STATES PAEENT oFF-Ion.

GEORGE' E.. WHITNEY, OF YONKEVRS, NEW YORK v "Moron-VEHICLE. l..

" Massacre,

fs'p'eincatio of Letters Patent.

Patentedauly 16, 19o?.

Gontinuation'of application Serial No. 68,732 Bled July 18, 1901. This application filed October 10, 1906. Serial Nm3-38,382.

T o'all whom it may concern: I' Be it known that I, GEORGE E. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Yonkers, county of Westchester, -and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements -in Motor-Vehicles,

, ,voi which the iollowing is a specification, reierencebeing had to the drawings accompanying the same. l

My invention relates to motor vehicles.

Motor vehicles as commonly constructed 'have the driving axle, usually therear axle, constructed in'two parts,. each oi which carries a driving wheel, and 7these two parts are connected by what isl commonly known as a compensating mechanism that permits one oi the parts with its wheel to .travel at a different rate or' speed from the other 'part with its wheel when the vehicle is rounding a curve, thus enabling one of the wheels to travel the longer path of the longer radius, without slipping either wheel. In carriages constructed in this manner, it is common to apply the drive chain or driving member to the central member or spider of the cornpensator, which member or spider is constructed in the I form of a wheel ior this purpose, so that whatever be the relative speed of rotation oi the two parts of the driving axle, they both receive maximum driving .power from the centrally arranged driving spider or member of the compensator. Thebrake' wheel is usually applied to g one oi the parts oi the driving axle, or,'perhaps more commonly, said brake wheel is applied directly to the driving member of the compensator.

That construction which involves the placingof the brake wheel' upon one o the parts oi the driving axlel is open to theobjection that should the compensator give out, the braking eliectcannot be transmitted from .the part .oi'the axle that carries the brake wheel to the other part oi the axle beyond the compensator; consequently, the braking effect is received by' one of the wheels only. Anlobjection to the practice o applying the brake to the driving member of the compensator is that should thecompensator give out, as it is apt to do,

the braking effect can be transmitted to neither part of the axle and neither wheel.

` My invention contemplates a braking wheel or device for each part oi the axle, so that the braking effect is applied to each part of the axle, whether or not the inter.- vening compensator or other mechanism is intact or de stroyetl My invention further contemplates various improvements in the arrangement or' the braking mechanism, frame, etc., all tending to the general improvement and el'lieiency oi the vehicle.

In the drawings,-Figure-1 is a plan view partially broken away, oi a motor vehicle irame, with sufficient pensator, said bearings being suspended by links, e5, 'from the rear crown member, e3, oi the frame, such ad ditional bearings-serving to stiften the rear axle and in-l connected parts to enable'my invention to be understood, Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, with the wheels applied; and Fig.'3, a detail, illustrating one form of brake appliance or-device.

In the embodiment of my invention here selected for illustration yand shown in the drawings, first referring to Fig. 2, a, b, are two" driving wheels,-hcrein the rear wheels o theA vehicle,.-.they being fast.respec tively upon the ends ofthe two driving axle members, a b. T he'axle member a', is hercshown as tubular in form, and receives within it the member, b sothatone may turn within the other, yet each acts as a support for the other to prevent buckling oi the composite laxle made up oi the two members, which buckling is a source of weakness in axles where the two parts merely abut one against the other Without overlapping or telescoping. Preferably,the member b" is also tubular, to receive the through and through bolt, c, that has a head or nut at the outside of each vo the Wheels, as indicated, to prevent separation of .the4 parts oi the axle in the yevent oi any oi the.` connecting mechanism'being disrupted. `The parts a', b of the driving axle have astupon them, respectively, the bevel compensating and driving wheels, a2, b2 in mesh with theseries ot intervening pinions, d, d, having their bearingsinthe driving mem'- ber, d of the compensator, said driving member being here shown as in the form of a driving or sprocket wheel. This form ofv compensator withthe driving member in the form of a sprocket wheel is Well-known at the present time, and 'its operation is sowell understood that it need not be specifically referred vto herein.

'lfhe driving axle composed ofthe parts a, b, has ,its

bearings in suitable boxes, e, e, detachably'secured to ,Y

the upright members, e, provided at their upper ends. respectively, with the angle fittings, 62, between which is arranged and to which is secured as by brazingor otherwise, the rear crown member, e3, of the frame. The

angle fittings, e2, are also constructed to serve as seatsr for the springs, s, s, indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2.

Preferably, 'additional bearings, e, are provided for the driving axle` at each side of and close to-the comf crease the smooth running of the parts-thereof.

The rear crown member, e3, of the irame is provided j K between its ends with suitablehTfittings, f; f, see Fig. y. 1, that receive 4the ends of the longitudinal frame meni-4 bersfonperch rods,A ff, that lare connected'in suitable .manner-,as bythe iront en d member, fl, the whole'going to make 'up alsuitably constructed vehicle frame. i

The4 front axle, g, is suitably' 'attached 'to this rectan-v gular vehicleframe, preferably by longitudinal, nerizontal, pivotal connections'not shown; .I

.'15 .opposite end of the said brake band is shown as proforked rear' end conveniently secured tothe intermediatebearings, e4, at the sides-oi the compensator rewhole or in part by a brake band', 111/., of, suitable' material or construction, preferably faced with an enduring' friction creating surface. This bra-ke bar id, m, as here constructed, lia-sone of-,its ends connected by a. link, m2, with the T fitting, f, of the frame referred to.' rlhe vided with -an upturned lug, 'm3,1 through which 'is V passed a link, mit, threaded to'receive the lock nuts,

m41, one at each side of the said lug, m3, and by which -the effective lengthl of said link` may be varied at will. This link, m4, is connected at its upper end to the horizontal arm of a bell crank lever, m5, fulcrumed between suitably formed ears or vvbearings, upon the Tvitting, f, referred to, the vertical arm of each bell crank lever, m5, having connected to it areach rod,

`m, extending towards the front end oi the frame.

The reach rods' that control the bellcranks ot the two brake wheels and their brakes, maybe .suitably operated from a point convenient to theoperator ofthe vehicle or otherwise, they. beingr here 4shown'as con-zy -nected at their front curia-respectively, to the arms,-

m7, fast on a cross-shaft, m5 carried by timeframe atr A itsA frontend, one 'of ,the ,said arms, -m7, beingextended to furnish a foot treadle, m9, Fig. 1,' with a spring, mi", 'l

to maintain. the brake mechanism normally in its inactive or released' p'osition. Obviously, any for- Ward movement of the foot needle, m, will cause the'I bell cranks, 'm5,' of the two brakes, to betippedabout -ther fulcra to tighten their 'respective brake bands about and upon the brake wheels within the same,` so

that la very powerful braking effect is had, particularly when the brakes are designed, as in the present in'- stance, so that therotation of the Wheels tend's the l more tightly to apply the brake'bands thereto.' Thus, each driving wheel and each' member of the driving axle has its own brake independently applied, that is,

the applicationof one does not follow from, nor is it dependent upon the application of the other, even though both are operated hy a comment-.initial operating rnember. Hence, if the compensator be ilevstroyed or broken, the operator still hascompletegcontrol of his vehicle, and, by applyingthe brakes, may' exert restraining power .upon both axle members and both driving wheels. Furthermore, thedorake elliciency is inno wise dependent uppn or limited bythe strength of theconipensatorth'at connects the two parts f of the'axle.: Also, it will. be noticed that the brakesl are -so'located relative te the longitudinal main frame members or perches, f., that the pull upon the links.

m2, and upon the reach rods` m, are received byisald frame lnemherscr, perches longitudinally or in the" direction in which they are capable of `receiving the greatest pressure without damage. =Conscquentlyf the. operator may applylthe brakes, asshown ini the drawings, with the greatest force possible,fwithout fear of buclcling..'orweakening the'frame. .In fact, the rear The usual distance member or strut, h, tha't'connectsl Q crown member, c3, sometimes called an archv member,A the motor or engine withi'the driving ai ile, lhasits is practically relieved of all bucklingtendency upon thelapplication of the ,'brake, tor the pressure being applied.' at the-front endso the longitudinal frame "members, f and th ev resistance at the rear ends-thereof. the said frame 'members receive practically the entire loadin themselves', regardless of lthe shape, construction or arrangementsof the rear arch or irame member.

' 'rheconstructiqn 'showmwhiie' furnishing a perfectly rigid and strong rear Vframe construction, further-leaves the two parts of the driving axle exposed', substan--v tially for' their entire lengths, which is a very desirable feature when access thereto is needed.y for repairs orf My invention is not-restricted' tothe particular ,em y

vbodiinent therecfhereshown, but may be variedwithin the spiritand'scope' of the invention.

Having described my' invention, .whit I 'claim andv v1. A motor vehicle having a. frame comprislng longltudidesire to secure by Letters Patent' isfnal frame' members, and-a connecting rear crown member,

a two-part driving `nxle-journnled ln, bearings 'carried by .I

saldrear crown member, 'anda' brakedevlce on each axle part and connected with said-frame,substantially. ln alinemcnt with said longitudinalframej'membera respectively,

wherebythelatter receivevln the vdirection of their-length' the braking 'power and'cftect.,

2. .In a motor vehicle a frameeomp'rlsig `longltudlnal members, a connecting rearcrown'member,`..a two-part mechanism co eating 'the prtsfo said driving' axle; a

braken'wheeapplled.'to`the exposed partor each axle, and connectlonsbetweensmd brake wheel and said frame sub- ,'stantlallyln line with. the-longitudinal' members of the t 3.'- l'na' inotiir--vehicle a'framevcomprlslng longitudinal member-sja connectlng-r'earicrowu member-,vertical end anembersi suppdrtingthe latter and spring' seats arranged directly over said end'inembers with 'axle 'pearingscarried by -'the lowrends ofl said vertical end members,A a twopart driving `axle journaled ln said-bearings with a. connecting compensator, and a brake device arranged on each axle part y'under 'said rear crown member andl in alinement with said longitudinal frame members. "4, In a motor vehicle a frame comprising longitudinal members, a connecting rear'crown member supported at its ,ends by vertical end members having bearings for the driving axle, spring seats'fsupported over said vertical end` members a twopart driving axle journnled in said bear ings, a .connectlng'compens'aton intermediate axle bearings at each side respectively of vsaid/compensator and susits ends," a two-part driving axle jonrnaled in said bearings,l saidA axle members being 4exposed for a part of their lengths between said bearings, a connecting compensator for'sald axle parts, separate brake devices for said iixle -parts,A intermediate bearings` one on either side of said compensator and suspended from said arch, and a 'distance' member `for vthe motor acting upon said intermediate bearings.

' 1. A motor vehicle having a frame provided with a rear transverse supporting member, longitudinal members attached thereto, a two-part driving axle carried by said frame' a band-brake for each driving part, and a brake operating lever for each brake fulcrumed at or near the point of attachment between the said transverse and longitudiA nal members.

8. A motor vehicle having a frame provided with a vtwo-part driving axle, longitudinal frame members, a rear transverse supporting -memher forming a crown` member substantially over and above the rear axle, a band brake atingv lever for each brake fulcrumed at lor near the point of attachment between the said transverse and longitudinal members and substantially vertically over the-.band

brake. v

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing `witnesses, this the nineteenth day of September, 1906. Y

GEORGE E. WHITNEY. Witnesses:

SIDNEY F. SMITH,

ROBERT H. KAMMLER; 

